Today, Congresswoman Deborah Ross (NC-02) released the following statement on House Republicans’ failure to raise the debt ceiling before sending Congress home for Memorial Day weekend.

In North Carolina’s Second District alone, a Republican default crisis would jeopardize Social Security payments for 59,000 families and put health benefits at risk for 163,000 residents who get their health insurance through Medicare, Medicaid, or Veterans Affairs coverage. Nationally, 7.1 million veterans and their families could see their benefits put on hold or stopped because of a default.

“It’s unacceptable that Republicans have sent Congress home for Memorial Day weekend while simultaneously pushing our country to the brink of default and threatening the health care and benefits of millions of veterans,” said Congresswoman Ross. “Republicans have created this mess, and it’s time for them to take responsibility. They need to stop holding the economy hostage for an extreme wish list and raise the debt ceiling.”